Rajgruh vandalism: 35-yr-old arrested, main accused is still on the run

MUMBAI: Matunga police on Thursday evening arrested a man in connection with the vandalism at Rajgruh, the house of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, located at the Hindu Colony, Dadar. However, the main accused is still at large.

The arrested accused, Umesh Jadhav, a 35-year-old beggar, has been remanded in seven days police custody.

“Jadhav’s image was captured in the CCTV footage on Tuesday evening . He was standing outside. The hunt for the main accused who had entered the premises and damaged pots is still on,” said Vinoy Kumar Choubey, additional director general (law and order), Mumbai Police.

According to police, Jadhav, a pavement dweller from Parel TT area, has not yet revealed any clear reason as to why he helped his partner. Police are interrogating him to know the whereabouts of the wanted accused.

The main accused’s image got captured in the CCTV installed at the house, while he was damaging flower pots on Tuesday around 5.30pm, said an officer.

The police plan to add section 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) to the case as Jadhav neither entered the premises nor did he damage the property, and was only present at the spot along with the main accused, said a police officer.

Earlier, a case was registered under sections 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of ₹50 or more) and 447 (criminal trespass) of the IPC based on the complaint of one of the three grandsons of Dr Ambedkar, who reside in the house.